Cases involving victims of bad lawyers

TORONTO – Here are some cases involving bad lawyers where victims received no compensation:

Who: Linofiel Eroma

What: Convicted and jailed after lawyer failed to let him testify, arrested for bail breach because of lawyer’s negligence

Judgment: Awarded $120,752 in March 2015

LawPro: Refused coverage on failure to co-operate grounds

Current status: Hearing in 2019 to try to garnish award from LawPro

Quote: “We should deny coverage or attempt to settle.” — senior litigator with LawPro in internal note.

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Who: Nalliah Balachandran

What: Lawyer failed to act properly in a dispute with a franchisor

Judgment: Awarded $188,646 in March 2012

LawPro: Refused coverage on failure to co-operate grounds

Current status: Still trying to collect

Quote: “I left the business broken heartedly and put my faith in the lawyer.” — Nallia Balachandran

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Who: Carolina Caputo

What: Badly hurt in a car crash but lawyer failed to claim benefits

Judgment: Awarded $321,500 in April 2014

LawPro: Refused coverage on failure to co-operate grounds.

Current status: Hearing in mid-December to try to garnish award from LawPro

Quote: “It’s grotesque. People need to know that they’ve got nothing if their lawyer just decides not to pick up the phone.” — Lawyer Ava Hillier

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Who: Martin Ceh-Seremet and Dubrauka Kottnig-Ceh

What: Injured in separate car crashes and fall on bus

Judgment: Awarded more than $437,000 in April 2017

LawPro: Refused coverage on failure to co-operate grounds.

Current status: Still trying to collect

Quote: “His conduct is appalling and merits sanction. Had punitive damages been claimed…I would have awarded them.” — Justice Darla Wilson on lawyer Michael J. Webster.

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Licence Revocations:

2015 – 14

2016 – 9

2017 – 10

Permission to Resign:

2015 – 8

2016 – 9

2017 – 4

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SOURCE: The Canadian Press/Law Society of Ontario